Isahluko Sesithathu

“Masiqondise Izindaba”

Isaya 1:10-31

1, 2. UJehova ubafanisa nobani ababusi nabantu baseJerusalema nabakwaJuda, futhi kungani lokhu kufaneleka?

ABANTU baseJerusalema bangase bathambekele ekuzithetheleleni ngemva kokuzwa ukusolwa okulotshwe ku-Isaya 1:1-9. Ngokungangabazeki bangathanda ukuqhosha bakhombe yonke imihlatshelo abayinikela kuJehova. Nokho, amavesi 10 kuya ku-15 anikeza impendulo kaJehova esiqedayo isimo sengqondo esinjalo. Iqala ngokuthi: “Yizwani izwi likaJehova, nina bomashiqela baseSodoma. Bekani indlebe emthethweni kaNkulunkulu wethu, nina bantu baseGomora.”—Isaya 1:10.

² ISodoma neGomora alibhujiselwanga nje kuphela imikhuba yalo yobulili obuphendukezelwe kodwa nobulukhuni bezinhliziyo zalo nesimo sengqondo salo sokuzidla. (Genesise 18:20, 21; 19:4, 5, 23-25; Hezekeli 16:49, 50) Izilaleli zika-Isaya kumelwe ukuba ziyashaqeka lapho zizwa ziqhathaniswa nabantu bakuleyo mizi eqalekisiwe.a Kodwa uJehova ubona abantu bakhe njengoba benjalo, futhi u-Isaya akasilulazi isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu ukuze ‘akitaze izindlebe zabo.’—2 Thimothewu 4:3.

 3. Usho ukuthini uJehova uma ethi ‘usecikekile’ imihlatshelo yabantu, futhi kungani kunjalo?

³ Phawula indlela uJehova azizwa ngayo ngokukhulekela kwabantu bakhe kokugcina icala. “‘Bunanzuzoni kimi ubuningi bemihlatshelo yenu?’ kusho uJehova. ‘Isingicikile iminikelo yokushiswa ephelele yezinqama namanoni ezilwane ezondlekile; futhi angizange ngijabule ngegazi lezinkunzi ezisencane nangamawundlu angamaduna nezimpongo.’” (Isaya 1:11) Abantu sebekhohliwe ukuthi uJehova akathembele emihlatshelweni yabo. (IHubo 50:8-13) Akadingi lutho abantu abangase bamnike lona. Ngakho, uma abantu becabanga ukuthi bamenzela umusa uJehova ngokunikela ngeminikelo yabo yokugcina icala, bashaye phansi. UJehova usebenzisa isifenqo esinamandla. Inkulumo ethi “isingicikile” ingase ihunyushwe nangokuthi “nganele” noma “ngisuthi kakhulu.” Uyawazi umuzwa wokusutha kuze kuthi buyisa lapho ubona okunye ukudla? UJehova wazizwa ngendlela efanayo ngaleyo minikelo—kuthi akabuyise!

 4. U-Isaya 1:12 ubembula kanjani ubuze bokuya kwabantu ethempelini eJerusalema?

⁴ UJehova uyaqhubeka: “Lapho niqhubeka ningena nizobona ubuso bami, ubani okufunile lokhu esandleni senu, ukuba ninyathele amagceke ami?” (Isaya 1:12) Akuwona yini umthetho kaJehova ngokwakhe othi abantu ‘mabangene bazobona ubuso bakhe,’ okusho ukuthi, babe khona ethempelini lakhe eJerusalema? (Eksodusi 34:23, 24) Yebo, kodwa bona baya ngoba begcina icala, sebemane benza sengathi baqhuba ukukhulekela okumsulwa, abanazo izisusa ezimsulwa. KuJehova, ukuhambela kwabo igceke lakhe kaningi kufana nje ‘nokulinyathela,’ abafezi lutho ngaphandle kokuligugisa.

 5. Yiziphi ezinye zezenzo zokukhulekela ezenziwa amaJuda, futhi kungani ‘seziwumthwalo’ kuJehova?

⁵ Akumangalisi ukuthi uJehova manje usebenzisa ulimi oluqinile! “Ningabe nisayiletha eminye iminikelo yokusanhlamvu engasizi ngalutho. Impepho—iyinto enengekayo kimi. Ukwethwasa kwenyanga nesabatha, ukubizwa kwembizo—angikwazi ukukubekezelela ukusetshenziswa kwamandla angaqondakaliyo kanye nombuthano onesizotha. Imikhosi yenu yokwethwasa kwenyanga nezinkathi zemikhosi yenu umphefumulo wami ukuzondile. Kuye kwaba umthwalo osindayo kimi; ngikhathele ukukuthwala.” (Isaya 1:13, 14) Iminikelo yokusanhlamvu, impepho, amaSabatha, nemibuthano enesizotha konke kuyingxenye yoMthetho kaNkulunkulu awunika u-Israyeli. Ngokuqondene ‘nokwethwasa kwenyanga,’ uMthetho uthi nje kumelwe kugujwe, kodwa kunamasiko asengene isinyenyela kulo mkhosi. (Numeri 10:10; 28:11) Ukwethwasa kwenyanga kubhekwa njengesabatha lanyanga zonke, lapho abantu beyeka khona umsebenzi, baqoqane nokuqoqana ukuze abaprofethi nabapristi babafundise. (2 AmaKhosi 4:23; Hezekeli 46:3; Amose 8:5) Imikhosi enjalo ayimibi. Inkinga isekuyenzeni ngenjongo yokubukisa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaJuda asesebenzisa “amandla angaqondakaliyo,” imikhuba yokusebenzisa imimoya, kanye nokugcina kwawo uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ngendlela yokugcina icala.b Ngakho, izenzo zabo zokukhulekela uJehova ‘ziwumthwalo’ kuye.

 6. Kungamuphi umqondo uJehova ‘esekhathele’?

⁶ Nokho, uJehova ‘angakhathala’ kanjani? Ingani “uyingqabavu . . . Akakhathali noma adinwe.” (Isaya 40:26, 28) UJehova usebenzisa inkulumo ecacile ukuze sikwazi ukuqonda imizwa yakhe. Wake wawuthwala yini umthwalo osindayo isikhathi eside, waze wakhathala waba yingcuba futhi wafisa ukuwudinsila phansi? Yile ndlela uJehova azizwa ngayo ngezenzo zokukhulekela zokuzenzisa zabantu bakhe.

 7. Kungani uJehova eseyekile ukulalela imithandazo yabantu bakhe?

⁷ Manje uJehova ukhuluma ngesenzo sokukhulekela esiveza imizwa yomuntu ejule ngaphezu kwazo zonke. “Lapho neneka izandla zenu, ngiyawafihla amehlo ami kini. Ngisho noma nithandaza kaningi, angilalele; zona kanye izandla zenu zigcwele ukuchitha igazi.” (Isaya 1:15) Ukweneka izandla, ukwelula izintende zibheke phezulu, kuwuphawu lokunxusa. Lesi simo asisho lutho kuJehova ngoba laba bantu banezandla ezigcwele ukuchitha igazi. Ubudlova buthé bhe ezweni. Ukucindezelwa kwabampofu kuyinsakavukela. Kuyichilo ukuba abantu abanjalo abahlukumezayo nabanobugovu bathandaze kuJehova bacele izibusiso. Yingakho uJehova ethi, “angilalele”!

 8. Yiliphi iphutha elenziwa eLobukholwa namuhla, futhi amanye amaKristu awela kanjani ogibeni olufanayo?

⁸ Osukwini lwethu, eLobukholwa lehluleke ngendlela efanayo ukuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu ngemithandazo yalo yokuthemeleza engapheli neminye “imisebenzi” yalo yenkolo. (Mathewu 7:21-23) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba singaweli ogibeni olufanayo. Ngezinye izikhathi, umKristu uwela ekusenzeni umkhuba isono esingathi sína, abese ecabanga ukuthi uma emane ekufihla nje akwenzayo abese esebenza ngenkuthalo ebandleni lobuKristu, ngandlela-thile izenzo zakhe ziyosisusa isono sakhe. Imisebenzi enjalo yokugcina icala ayimthokozisi uJehova. Linye kuphela ikhambi lokugula okungokomoya, njengoba amavesi alandelayo ka-Isaya ebonisa.

Ikhambi Lokugula Okungokomoya

9, 10. Ukuhlanzeka kubaluleke kangakanani ekukhulekeleni kwethu uJehova?

⁹ UJehova, uNkulunkulu onesihawu, manje usekhuluma ngendlela yomusa, encengayo. “Gezani; zenzeni nihlanzeke; susani ububi bezenzo zenu phambi kwamehlo ami; phezani ukwenza okubi. Fundani ukwenza okuhle; funani ubulungisa; lungisani umcindezeli; yahlulelelani intandane; melani udaba lomfelokazi.” (Isaya 1:16, 17) Lapha sithola uhide lwezinto ezingu-9 okumelwe zenziwe, noma imiyalo. Ezine zokuqala azizinhle ngomqondo wokuthi zihilela ukususwa kwesono; ezokugcina ezinhlanu ziyizenzo ezinhle eziholela ekutholeni isibusiso sikaJehova.

¹⁰ Ukugeza nokuhlanzeka bekulokhu kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokukhulekela okumsulwa. (Eksodusi 19:10, 11; 30:20; 2 Korinte 7:1) Kodwa uJehova ufuna ukuhlanzeka kujule, kufinyelele ezinhliziyweni zabakhulekeli bakhe. Ukuhlanzeka kokuziphatha nokungokomoya kubaluleke nakakhulu, futhi yilokhu uJehova abhekisela kukho. Imiyalo emibili yokuqala evesini 16 ayiphindi nje into eyodwa. Isazi solimi lwesiHeberu sisikisela ukuthi owokuqala, othi “gezani,” ubhekisela esenzweni sokuqala sokuzihlanza, kanti owesibili, othi “zenzeni nihlanzeke,” ubhekisela emizamweni eqhubekayo yokuzigcina ulokhu uhlanzekile.

11. Ukuze silwe nesono, kufanele senzeni, futhi yini okungafanele neze siyenze?

¹¹ Akukho esingakufihlela uJehova. (Jobe 34:22; IzAga 15:3; Heberu 4:13) Ngakho umyalo wakhe othi “Susani ububi bezenzo zenu phambi kwamehlo ami,” ungasho into eyodwa kuphela—ukuyeka ukwenza okubi. Lokho kusho ukungazami ukufihla izono ezingathi sína, ngoba ukwenza kanjalo kuyisono ngokwako. IzAga 28:13 ziyaxwayisa: “Ofihla iziphambeko zakhe ngeke aphumelele, kodwa ozivumayo azishiye uyoboniswa isihe.”

12. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ‘ukufunda ukwenza okuhle’? (b) Abadala ngokukhethekile bangazisebenzisa kanjani iziqondiso ‘zokufuna ubulungisa’ ‘nokulungisa umcindezeli’?

¹² Kuningi esingakufunda ezenzweni ezinhle uJehova ayala ukuba zenziwe evesini 17 lika-Isaya isahluko 1. Phawula ukuthi akasho nje ukuthi ‘yenzani okuhle’ kodwa uthi “fundani ukwenza okuhle.” Kudinga ukuba umuntu atadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze aqonde ukuthi yini enhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu futhi afune ukuyenza. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova akasho nje ukuthi ‘yenzani ubulungisa’ kodwa uthi “funani ubulungisa.” Ngisho nabadala abangomakad’ ebona kudingeka bacwaninge nzulu eZwini likaNkulunkulu ukuze bathole ukuthi iyiphi inkambo efanele ezindabeni ezithile ezinzima. Banomthwalo ‘wokulungisa umcindezeli,’ njengoba uJehova eyala. Lezi ziqondiso zibalulekile kubelusi abangamaKristu namuhla, ngoba bafuna ukuvikela umhlambi ‘ezimpisini ezicindezelayo.’—IzEnzo 20:28-30.

13. Thina namuhla singayisebenzisa kanjani imiyalo ephathelene nentandane nomfelokazi?

¹³ Imiyalo emibili yokugcina ithinta abanye babantu bakaNkulunkulu abasengozini kakhulu kunabanye—izintandane nabafelokazi. Izwe liyathanda ukusizakala ngabantu abanjalo; akumelwe kube njalo kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Abadala abanothando ‘bahlulelela’ izintandane ebandleni, bazisize zithole ubulungisa nesivikelo ezweni elifuna ukusizakala ngazo lizonakalise. Abadala ‘bamela indaba’ yomfelokazi, noma njengoba igama lesiHeberu lingase lisho, ‘bayamlwela.’ Ngempela, wonke amaKristu afuna ukuba umthombo wesiphephelo, owenduduzo nowobulungisa kwabasweleyo phakathi kwethu ngoba bayigugu kuJehova.—Mika 6:8; Jakobe 1:27.

14. Yimuphi umyalo omuhle ovezwa u-Isaya 1:16, 17?

¹⁴ Yeka umyalezo onamandla nomuhle uJehova awudluliselayo ngale miyalo engu-9! Ngezinye izikhathi labo abenza isono bazitshela ukuthi kumane nje kungaphezu kwamandla abo ukwenza okulungileyo. Imibono enjalo iyadumaza. Ngaphandle kwalokho, iyiphutha. UJehova uyazi—futhi ufuna nathi sazi—ukuthi ngosizo lwaKhe, noma isiphi isoni singayiyeka inkambo yaso yesono, siphenduke, futhi senze okulungileyo.

Isicelo Sesihawu, Esibonisa Ukulunga

15. Inkulumo ethi “masiqondise izindaba phakathi kwethu” iqondwa kanjani ngokungeyikho ngezinye izikhathi, futhi isho ukuthini ngempela?

¹⁵ Iphimbo likaJehova manje selinemfudumalo nesihawu esengeziwe. “‘Wozani, manje, masiqondise izindaba phakathi kwethu,’ kusho uJehova. ‘Nakuba izono zenu kungenzeka ukuthi zibomvu klebhu, zizokwenziwa zibe mhlophe njengeqhwa; nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi zibomvu njengendwangu ebomvu okwegazi, zizoba njengoboya bemvu.’” (Isaya 1:18) Ngokuvamile asiqondwa kahle lesi sicelo esivula leli vesi elimnandi. Ngokwesibonelo, i-New English Bible ithi, “Masixoxisane ngayo”—njengokungathi zombili izinhlangothi kumelwe zivumelane ngokwenza ukubuyisana. Akunjalo! UJehova akanacala, ngisho nasekusebenzelaneni kwakhe nala bantu abahlubukayo nabazenzisayo. (Duteronomi 32:4, 5) Leli vesi alikhulumi ngezingxoxo zokubuyisana phakathi kwabantu abasezingeni elilinganayo, kodwa likhuluma ngokwahlulela ngobulungisa. Kusengathi uJehova ufaka u-Israyeli enkantolo yamacala.

16, 17. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukuthethelela nezono ezingathi sína?

¹⁶ Lokho kungase kube umqondo osabisayo, kodwa uJehova unguMahluleli onesihe nonesihawu ngaphezu kwabo bonke. Ukwazi ukuthethelela ngendlela engenakuqhathaniswa. (IHubo 86:5) Uyena kuphela ongasusa izono zika-Israyeli “ezibomvu klebhu” azihlanze, azenze zibe “mhlophe njengeqhwa.” Akukho mzamo wabantu, akukho qhinga, mihlatshelo, noma imithandazo engasusa ibala lesono. Intethelelo kaJehova kuphela engageza isono sisuke. Leyo ntethelelo uNkulunkulu uyinikeza ngendlela emiswe nguye, ehlanganisa ukuphenduka okuqotho nokusuka enhliziyweni.

¹⁷ Leli qiniso libaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba uJehova uliphinda ngendlela esankondlo—izono “ezibomvu okwegazi” ziyoba njengoboya obusha, obungadayiwe, obumhlophe. UJehova ufuna sazi ukuthi ngempela unguMthetheleli wezono, ngisho nezimbi kangakanani, uma nje esibona ukuthi siphenduka ngobuqotho. Labo abakuthola kunzima ukukholelwa ukuthi lokhu kuyiqiniso kubona benza kahle ngokucabangela izibonelo ezinjengesikaManase. Wona kakhulu impela—iminyaka eminingi. Kodwa waphenduka futhi wathethelelwa. (2 IziKronike 33:9-16) UJehova ufuna ukuba sonke, kuhlanganise nalabo abaye benza izono ezimbi kakhulu, bazi ukuthi akukephuzi kakhulu ‘ukulungisa izindaba’ naye.

18. UJehova ubanikeza kuphi ukukhetha abantu bakhe abahlubukayo?

¹⁸ UJehova ukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi kudingeka bakhethe. “Uma nina nibonisa ukuzimisela futhi nilalela, nizodla okuhle kwezwe. Kodwa uma nenqaba futhi empeleni nidlubulunda, nizodliwa yinkemba; ngoba wona kanye umlomo kaJehova ukukhulumile.” (Isaya 1:19, 20) UJehova lapha ukhuluma ngezimo zengqondo, futhi usebenzisa enye inkulumo ecacile ukuze akhanyise iphuzu lakhe. Nakhu ukukhetha uJuda okumelwe akwenze: Makadle noma adliwe. Uma enesimo sengqondo sokuzimisela ukuzwa uJehova nokumlalela, uyodla imikhiqizo emihle yezwe. Kodwa uma ephikelela nesimo sengqondo sokudlubulunda, uzodliwa—yinkemba yezitha zakhe! Kubonakala kuyinto engacabangeki ukuthi abantu bangakhetha inkemba yezitha zabo kunesihe nenala kaNkulunkulu othethelelayo. Nokho, kunjalo ngeJerusalema, njengoba amavesi alandelayo ka-Isaya ebonisa.

Ukulilela Umuzi Othandekayo

19, 20. (a) UJehova uwudlulisela kanjani umuzwa wokukhohliswa awuzwayo? (b) ‘Ukulunga kwakuhlala eJerusalema’ ngamuphi umqondo?

¹⁹ Ku-Isaya 1:21-23, sibona izinga elikhulu lokonakala kweJerusalema ngalesi sikhathi. U-Isaya manje uqala inkondlo ephefumulelwe eyisililo: “O, yeka indlela umuzana okholekile oye waba isifebe ngayo! Wawugcwele ubulungisa; ukulunga ngokwakho kwakuhlala kuwo, kodwa manje sekuhlala ababulali.”—Isaya 1:21.

²⁰ Yeka indlela owe ngayo lo muzi waseJerusalema! Nakuba wake waba umfazi othembekileyo, manje usuyisifebe. Iyiphi enye indlela ebingawudlulisela ngamandla ngayo kunalena umuzwa wokukhohliswa nowendumalo uJehova awuzwayo? “Ukulunga ngokwakho kwakuhlala” kulo muzi. Nini? Engakabi khona nakuba khona u-Israyeli, emuva ngosuku luka-Abrahama, lo muzi wawubizwa ngokuthi iSalema. Wawubuswa umuntu owayeyinkosi futhi engumpristi. Igama lakhe, elithi Melkisedeki, lisho ukuthi “iNkosi Yokulunga,” futhi ngokusobala lalimfanele. (Heberu 7:2; Genesise 14:18-20) Ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe yinkulungwane ngemva kukaMelkisedeki, iJerusalema lafinyelela eqophelweni eliphezulu ngaphansi kokubusa kukaDavide noSolomoni. “Ukulunga ngokwakho kwakuhlala kuwo,” ikakhulukazi lapho amakhosi akhona ebekela abantu isibonelo ngokuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova. Nokho, ngosuku luka-Isaya izikhathi ezinjalo zase zidlulile.

21, 22. Yini eshiwo amanyela notshwala obuhlanjululiwe, futhi kungani abaholi bakwaJuda ibafanela le ncazelo?

²¹ Kubonakala sengathi abaholi babantu bayingxenye enkulu yenkinga. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka nesililo sakhe: “Isiliva lakho selibe amanyela. Utshwala bakho bukakolweni buhlanjululwe ngamanzi. Izikhulu zakho zinenkani futhi zingabangane bamasela. Yilowo nalowo kuzo ungumthandi wesifumbathiso nomxoshi wezipho. Azisikhiphi isahlulelo ngenxa yentandane; ngisho necala lomthetho lomfelokazi alamukeleki kuzo.” (Isaya 1:22, 23) Imifanekiso emibili ecacile elandelana eduze yendlalela lokho okuzolandela. Eziko lakhe, umkhandi wensimbi ucwenga amanyela esiliveni elincibilikisiwe abese ewachitha. Amakhosana akwa-Israyeli nabahluleli bafana namanyela, abafani nesiliva. Kudingeka balahlwe. Abasenalusizo, sebefana notshwala obuhlanjululwe ngamanzi base bulahlekelwa ubumnandi. Isiphuzo esinjalo sifanelwe ukuchithwa!

²² Ivesi 23 libonisa ukuthi kungani abaholi befanelwa yileyo ncazelo. UMthetho KaMose wabaphakamisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu, wabahlukanisa kwezinye izizwe. Ngokwesibonelo, wenza kanjalo ngokuyala ukuba izintandane nabafelokazi bavikelwe. (Eksodusi 22:22-24) Kodwa ngosuku luka-Isaya, intandane ayinathemba lokwahlulelwa kahle. Umfelokazi yena, akatholi muntu ongalalela udaba lwakhe, ingasaphathwa eyokuba othile amsize. Cha, laba bahluleli nabaholi bamatasa kabi banakekela izinzuzo zabo siqu—bafuna ukufumbathiswa nezipho futhi bangabangane bamasela, ngokusobala bavikela izigebengu bebe beyekela izisulu zazo zihlupheke. Okubi nakakhulu ukuthi ‘banenkani,’ noma balukhuni, enkambweni yabo yokwenza okubi. Yeka isimo esidabukisayo!

UJehova Uzobacwengisisa Abantu Bakhe

23. UJehova ubavezela miphi imizwa labo abaphikisana naye?

²³ UJehova ngeke akubekezelele phakade ukusetshenziswa kabi okunjena kwamandla. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Ngakho-ke yilokhu iNkosi yeqiniso, uJehova wamabutho, Onamandla ka-Israyeli, akushoyo: ‘Nakho-ke! Ngizozikhulula kwabaphikisana nami, futhi ngizoziphindisela ezitheni zami.’” (Isaya 1:24) UJehova lapha ubizwa ngeziqu ezintathu, okugcizelela ukufaneleka kwakhe ukuba inkosi namandla akhe amakhulu. Isibabazo esithi “Nakho-ke!” cishe sibonisa ukuthi uzwela lukaJehova manje seluhlangene nokuzimisela kwakhe ukuthatha isinyathelo ngenxa yentukuthelo yakhe. Ngokuqinisekile sikhona isizathu salokhu.

24. Iyiphi inqubo yokucwengisisa uJehova ayihlosele abantu bakhe?

²⁴ Abantu bakaJehova bazenze bona baba izitha zakhe. Bayifanelekela ngokugcwele impindiselo yaphezulu. UJehova ‘uzozikhulula’ kubo noma abalahle. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuchithwa okuphelele nokwaphakade kwabantu begama lakhe? Cha, ngoba uJehova uqhubeka athi: “Ngizobuyisela isandla sami phezu kwenu, ngizowancibilikisa aphele amanyela akho ngokungathi ngoketshezi lokuhlanza lomlotha, futhi ngizokususa konke okungadingeki kuwe.” (Isaya 1:25) Manje uJehova wenza umfanekiso ngenqubo yokucwengisisa. Endulo, umcwengi wayevame ukufaka uketshezi lokuhlanza lomlotha ukuze asize ekukhipheni amanyela ensimbini eyigugu. Ngendlela efanayo, uJehova, ongabheki abantu bakhe njengabonakele ngokuphelele, ‘uzobajezisa ngezinga elifanelekile.’ Uzosusa kubona ‘okungadingeki’ kuphela—abantu abanenkani, abangathandeki, abenqabayo ukufunda nokulalela.c (Jeremiya 46:28) Ngala mazwi, u-Isaya uthola ilungelo lokuloba umlando ungakenzeki.

25. (a) UJehova wabacwengisisa kanjani abantu bakhe ngo-607 B.C.E.? (b) UJehova wabacwengisisa nini abantu bakhe ezikhathini zanamuhla?

²⁵ UJehova wabacwengisisa ngempela abantu bakhe, wasusa amanyela angabaholi abonakele nezinye izihlubuki. Ngo-607 B.C.E., sesidlule kudala isikhathi sika-Isaya, iJerusalema labhujiswa, izakhamuzi zalo zadingiselwa eBabiloni iminyaka engu-70. Ngezindlela ezithile lokhu kufuze isenzo uNkulunkulu asenza kamuva. Isiprofetho esikuMalaki 3:1-5, esalotshwa ngemva kwesikhathi eside kwaphela ukudingiselwa eBabiloni, sabonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyophinde enze umsebenzi wokucwengisisa. Sakhomba esikhathini uJehova uNkulunkulu ayeyofika ngaso ethempelini lakhe elingokomoya ephelezelwa ‘yisithunywa sakhe sesivumelwano,’ uJesu Kristu. Ngokusobala lokhu kwenzeka ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I. UJehova wabahlola bonke labo ababethi bangamaKristu, ehlukanisa aweqiniso kwawamanga. Umphumela waba yini?

26-28. (a) Yikuphi ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kuka-Isaya 1:26? (b) Sigcwaliseke kanjani lesi siprofetho esikhathini sethu? (c) Lesi siprofetho singabazuzisa kanjani abadala namuhla?

²⁶ UJehova uyaphendula: “Ngizokubuyiselela abahluleli njengasekuqaleni, nabeluleki bakho njengasekuqaleni. Ngemva kwalokho uyobizwa ngokuthi uMuzi Wokulunga, uMuzana Okholekile. IZiyoni liyokhululwa ngobulungisa, futhi ababuyayo balo, ngokulunga.” (Isaya 1:26, 27) IJerusalema lasendulo lakubona ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwalesi siprofetho. Ngemva kokubuyela kwabathunjwa emzini wakubo othandekayo ngo-537 B.C.E., baphinde baba khona abahluleli nabeluleki abathembeke njengabangaphambili. Abaprofethi uHagayi noZakariya, umpristi uJoshuwa, umbhali u-Ezra nombusi uZerubabele bonke basebenzela ukuqondisa insali ethembekile eyayibuyile ukuba ihambe ezindleleni zikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukugcwaliseka okubaluleke nakakhulu kwenzeka ekhulwini lama-20.

²⁷ Ngo-1919, abantu bakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla baphuma enkathini yokuvivinywa. Bakhululwa ebugqilini obungokomoya eBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Umehluko phakathi kwaleyo nsali egcotshiwe ethembekile nabefundisi beLobukholwa abayizihlubuki waba sobala. UNkulunkulu waphinde wababusisa abantu bakhe, ‘wababuyiselela abahluleli nabeluleki’—amadoda athembekile eluleka abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngokweZwi lakhe hhayi ngokwamasiko abantu. Namuhla phakathi ‘komhlambi omncane’ onciphayo nezigidi ezandayo ‘zesixuku esikhulu’ esingabangane bawo, kunezinkulungwane zamadoda anjalo.—Luka 12:32; Johane 10:16; Isaya 32:1, 2; 60:17; 61:3, 4.

²⁸ Abadala bayakhumbula ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi baba “abahluleli” ebandleni ukuze baligcine lihlanzekile ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya futhi balungise abenzi bokubi. Bakukhathalela ngokujulile ukwenza izinto ngendlela kaNkulunkulu, balingise ubulungisa bakhe obunesihe nobulinganiselayo. Nokho, ezimweni eziningi bakhonza ‘njengabeluleki.’ Yebo, lokhu kuhluke kakhulu ekubeni yizikhulu noma omashiqela, futhi benza yonke imizamo yokuba bangabonakali nakancane ‘bezenza izingqongqo phezu kwalabo abayifa likaNkulunkulu.’—1 Petru 5:3.

29, 30. (a) UJehova uthini ngalabo abenqaba ukuzuza ekucwengisisweni? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo abantu ‘beba namahloni’ ngemithi nangamasimu abo?

²⁹ Kuthiwani ‘ngamanyela’ okukhulunywa ngawo esiprofethweni sika-Isaya? Kwenzekani kulabo abenqabayo ukuzuza enqubweni kaNkulunkulu yokucwengisisa? U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Ukuphahlazeka kwabavukelayo nokwabayizoni kuyoba ngasikhathi sinye, futhi labo abashiya uJehova bayophela. Ngoba bayoba namahloni ngemithi emikhulu enayifisa nina, futhi nina niyojabha ngenxa yamasimu eniwakhethile.” (Isaya 1:28, 29) Labo abavukelayo futhi bone uJehova, bangayinaki imiyalezo eyizixwayiso yabaprofethi bakhe kuze kwephuze kakhulu, ngempela ‘bayaphahlazeka’ futhi ‘baphele.’ Lokhu kwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E. Nokho, isho ukuthini le mithi namasimu?

³⁰ Abantu baseJudiya banenkinga eqhubekayo yokukhonza izithombe. Imithi, amasimu nezife kuvamile ukusetshenziswa emikhubeni yabo engcolile. Ngokwesibonelo, abakhulekeli bakaBali nomkakhe u-Ashitaroti, bakholelwa ukuthi ngenkathi yesomiso, lab’ onkulunkulu ababili basuke befile futhi bengcwatshiwe. Ukuze babavuse futhi bahlangane ngokobulili, balethe inzalo ezweni, abakhonza izithombe bayabuthana bazokwenza izenzo zobulili obuphendukezelwe ngaphansi kwemithi “engcwele” ezifeni noma emasimini. Lapho kufika izimvula nenzalo ezweni, lab’ onkulunkulu bamanga bathola udumo; abakhonza izithombe bazizwe beqiniseka ngezinkolelo-ze zabo. Kodwa lapho uJehova eziqeda lezi zihlubuki ezikhonza izithombe, abekho onkulunkulu abayizithombe ababavikelayo. Lezi zihlubuki ‘ziba namahloni’ ngemithi namasimu angenalusizo.

31. Yini abantu abakhonza izithombe ababhekana nayo embi kakhulu kunehlazo?

³¹ Nokho, abaseJudiya abakhonza izithombe babhekene nokubi nakakhulu kunehlazo. Eshintsha umfanekiso, uJehova manje ufanisa umuntu okhonza isithombe nomuthi. “Niyoba njengomuthi omkhulu omahlamvu awo abunayo, nanjengensimu engenamanzi.” (Isaya 1:30) Esimweni sezulu esishisayo nesomile saseMpumalanga Ephakathi, lo mfanekiso uyafaneleka. Akukho muthi noma nsimu engahlala isikhathi eside ingawatholi njalo amanzi. Sezibunile, izitshalo ezinjalo ziba izisulu ezilula zomlilo. Ngakho, umfanekiso olandelayo evesini 31 ulindelekile.

32. (a) Ubani “indoda eyingqabavu” okubhekiselwe kuyo evesini 31? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo iyoba “uzi lwefilakisi elingabhuliwe,” iyiphi “inhlansi” eyoyithungela, futhi ube yini umphumela?

³² “Ngokuqinisekile indoda eyingqabavu iyoba uzi lwefilakisi elingabhuliwe, umkhiqizo womsebenzi wayo ube inhlansi; ngokuqinisekile kokubili kuyogqamuka amalangabi kanyekanye, kungabikho muntu wokukucima.” (Isaya 1:31) Ubani le “ndoda eyingqabavu”? Le nkulumo yesiHeberu idlulisela umqondo wamandla nengcebo. Cishe ibhekisela kumlandeli wonkulunkulu bamanga ochumayo nozethembayo. Ngosuku luka-Isaya, njengakolwethu, baningi abantu abalahla uJehova nokukhulekela kwakhe okumsulwa. Abanye baze babonakale bephumelela nokuphumelela. Nakuba kunjalo, uJehova uxwayisa ngokuthi abantu abanjalo bayofana ‘nozi lwefilakisi elingabhuliwe,’ imicu yefilakisi emahhadla, ephuka kalula neyome kangangokuthi kuba sengathi iyahlukana lapho izwa umlilo. (AbAhluleli 16:8, 9) Umkhiqizo womsebenzi womuntu okhonza isithombe—kungaba onkulunkulu bakhe bezithombe, ingcebo yakhe, noma yini ayikhulekelayo esikhundleni sikaJehova—uyoba ‘njengenhlansi’ eyokhelayo. Kokubili inhlansi nozi lwefilakisi elingabhuliwe kuyoshwabadelwa, kuqothulwe umlilo ongenakucinywa muntu. Akukho mandla emhlabeni angaguqula izahlulelo zikaJehova eziphelele.

33. (a) Izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu zesahlulelo esizayo zisibonisa kanjani isihe? (b) Yiliphi ithuba uJehova alinikeza isintu manje, futhi lokhu kusithinta kanjani thina?

³³ Ingabe lesi sigijimi sokugcina siyahambelana nesigijimi sesihe nentethelelo esisevesini 18? Yebo! UJehova wenza ukuba izixwayiso ezinjalo zilotshwe phansi futhi izinceku zakhe zizimemezele ngoba unesihe. Phela “akafisi ukuba noma ubani abhujiswe kodwa ufisa ukuba bonke bafinyelele ekuphendukeni.” (2 Petru 3:9) Kuyilungelo lawo wonke amaKristu eqiniso namuhla ukumemezela imiyalezo kaNkulunkulu eyisixwayiso esintwini ukuze abaphendukayo bazuze entethelelweni yakhe enkulu futhi baphile phakade. Yeka umusa uJehova anawo ngokunika isintu ithuba ‘lokuqondisa izindaba’ naye kungakephuzi kakhulu!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]